28 December 2009

The last week of the year is always exciting to me. Time to reflect, time to put some dreams and goals for the new year down on paper, time to think about what worked this year - and what didn't. Time to think about what overarching theme the new year should take on. I'm really loving where life is headed, lots of changes in store, and I'm so looking forward to that. More on this in the days to come...

For now, sure to make it on the list in the new year: don't be such a bossy momsister. I'm going to start practicing now.

23 December 2009

It's quiet this morning, all of my loved ones still sleeping. The snow is coming down in huge lacy flakes. I sit to make a list for the day; some more baking, a few last details to prepare for gifts. It's a day for dropping off boxes of treats around town, shopping for the missing ingredients in our holiday recipes, and an evening for going to see the best Christmas movie ever made. It's going to be a good day.

My sister is here, our first Christmas together in a long time. And it has been a magical week. A week of healing old wounds, of growing closer, some tears - mostly laughter and so much gratitude. I think when I look back on this Christmas for years to come, I'll remember this as my Christmas. The happiest, most Christmasy Christmas since my childhood. The one where all the best bits came together. The one where I didn't travel, someone came to me. What better gift could there be?

17 December 2009

Lots of hustle and bustle lately, 'tis the season! But in between there have been some warm, quiet moments alone, and with friends and loved ones. I love this time of year. Today will be filled with preparing my home for my sister to arrive! Such a happy, happy thought. She will be the first of my family to travel from the west coast to see this place I now call home. It's a very special day for me.

I thought I'd leave you with a list. I love to read the to-do lists of friends, especially this time of year. Here's mine from now through the weekend.

10 December 2009

Over the last few years Second Storie has grown with each event. Not so much in terms of size, although we have grown a little bit, but more so in the quality of the entire experience. Always learning, making adjustments, pushing ourselves to grow, and growing closer in our friendships - the other Stories and I have strived to foster for our vendors a sense of family, of being cared for and appreciated, and of being recognized for great joy, talent, and care in making. From the tremendously heartfelt feedback landing in our mailbox each day, I dare say we've accomplished this. We have always felt that if our vendors felt cozy so would our shoppers - it's difficult not to smile, and support handmade when the artists are beaming.

This year felt like the perfect storm of everything we have learned coming together at the right time, with the right people, and with the right crowds. It was perfect. Old friends reunited, or in some cases met for the first time, new friends found kindred connections, gorgeous, inspiring work was presented in abundance and sold in abundance, the shoppers were full of good cheer, the music was festive and there were yards and yards of the best streamers ever.

There were happy trades, wholesale opportunities, generous donations from our artists for a truly amazing raffle (that was free), and a private blog for our vendors to arrange carpooling and places to stay. There was no fee for admission to shop, there was an old school bake sale with old school prices, a delicious, private catered brunch for our vendors, generously donated free coffee and tea for shoppers throughout the event, and some treats for early birds, too!

There were so many hugs, and smiles, stories exchanged (some into the wee early morning hours), high fives, hope to see you next years, hard goodbyes, a running dive across the wood floor to choose our raffle winners (as is now tradition) and so many thank yous and see you soons.

I'm sorry if you're sort of starting to gag at all the joy here, but really if you were there you wouldn't have gagged. I think you probably would have high fived someone too. In the end, all I guess I'm wanting to say is that if you're thinking you might want to make the journey (short or long) to set up a table or browse the tables I hope you'll give it a go. I'm guessing next year will be be even better - which is, I think, our most important tradition.

To my fellow Storie girls - I love you, my life would not be the same without each of you. To all the friends and supporters of handmade that came to our event in lieu of the mall - thank you. Thank you for investing in something so important and vital. Thank you for your encouragement. To our behind the scenes support - we'd be lost without you, truly. And to all of our vendors - you made my year. You've inspired me beyond measure. I send you all a hearty high five, and a hug.

08 December 2009

We're in a festive holiday spirit over at Hello Handmade this week! To spread the cheer we've marked our 2010 Laureled Tea Towels down to $20! We've also listed some bulk orders in quantities of 2, 5, and 10 for those of you looking to stock up on gifts for friends, teachers, and family at a further discount and with free shipping!

To top things off, we're also having a little giveaway over at Poppytalk! Simply leave a little comment with your favorite holiday tradition by 10pm pacific today (not here, over at the Poppytalk post) and a winner will be selected and announced tomorrow. We will also have another little surprise to announce tomorrow, only for Poppytalk readers, so stay tuned!

Betsy and I have re-launched some old favorites from last holiday season as well. Back by popular demand are our Woodland Snowglobe and Joyful Bells Ornament downloads, as well as our Happy New Year Bunting. We're hoping to release a few more downloads next week but our to-do lists are brimming, so we'll have to see. And for those of you thinking of purchasing the O Tannenbaum Specimen Chart, quantities are limited. Scoop one up if it's on your list, before they're all gone!

Thanks for listening to all of the shop talk today. Tomorrow I want to share with you a little on my thoughts about Second Storie this year, I hope you'll join me. I'm still all aglow about it!

Good cheer to you!

Shanna

p.s. Thanks to Abby for lending us her gorgeous shots of our tea towels! And to Jan for listing them as her gift of choice in the design*sponge gift guide!

04 December 2009

So, this week got away from me. I guess that was to be expected. I've been playing catch up with all the work that was waiting in the wings after being sick and then preparing for Second Storie. I'm determined to get in a better blogging routine come new year! More on all the changes I have in store very soon.

Right now I've got delicious cup cakes from this recipe in the oven, and peanut butter cookies on deck as soon as they're done. Then it's time to head over to VSW for the encore screening of Handmade Nation and our little old fashioned bake sale. I'm hoping some friends decide to come out and join us, as I'm feeling a little sad it's all drawing to a close. I had such a wonderful time this year with the market. I'd like to share more with you on that next week, and share some of Abby's amazing photos, too!

Tomorrow I'll be at the studio with my other studio mates selling our wares at the Anderson Alley Holiday Gala. Stop by and say hello, if you're in town - I'd love to see you! There will be lots of great art, and some pretty yummy snacks!

01 December 2009

Well, where do I begin? I am so full of stories to tell, thoughts to share. But I find my thoughts are not really ready to spill over quite yet - I'm still sort of coming back to earth. I'm also going to need to borrow some of Abby's shots of the show for my posts, because I took none! None! Happily, the only heartbreak of the whole weekend was forgetting to have my camera on hand.

That's not true. The other two heartbreaks were taking Abby and Betsy to the airport. I miss them already. I'll spill my thoughts out here tomorrow, but for now I'll just say I am in love. I am in love with Second Storie and everyone who is part of its magic.